Computer center in Uganda is up and Running

Success in Uganda (One of the projects we were running)

One of the projects through Nabuur was to set up a computer center in Uganda.

Its been a long journey and kudos to local facilitator and team who struggled to make this happen at every step of the way.

Intro of Project from Fred Obala, president of group there and a passionate driver of change.

Project Management 101 (new tips in bad economy)

Economy is bad, company is not doing good, I am a project manager what do I do.

Since all the above are true for now here are a few things that I feel should be done:

- Things change, processes change, people change, as a Project Manager your primarily responsibility is to execute there is no excuse. Continue to deliver even if it means repeaable process or duplicated work.

- If you are working on one project and you have some badnwidth e.g. you are tasked at 70% on one project. You should go and look for another project and assignment. Net effect will be that you might be able to support both at 50%. Why change from 70-50% ? Because you might become more efficient. If you are forced into a situation you will be forced to make changes, you wil be forced to thing better ways. Moreover the more work you have on your plate the better.

- In a bad economy its always good to be on 2 boats. One things gets impacted other will save you. Always be on the lookout for health of the boat. One Sinks move to another and look for another boat which is on growth path.

- Being on mulitple projects will only give sense of security, it will expand skill in working in mulitple areas, it will win you new contacts and more mouths to cheer you.

- Never rest in an easy sitation, look for the hardest part and try and figure out the best solution and present it.

- There are always 2 sides of a coin, 2 parties in opposition, dont take any side, do the right thing. If they are leaders, do what it takes to give them both what they want even if it means duplication and multiple deliverables.

- No matter how process changes, never never let that impact execution. I know a specific instance where project was halted and a new process was being discussed. Net Impact to project loss of 1 month, it could have been avoided had we not stopped.

- Always double check your work. Before pubslishing important information which goes out to exec's etc.

- Always be open to criticism. Someone might know a better way, best to take the better way and not continue with the old approach.

- Always worry about your project and think something might go wrong. Its called risk. That is how you identify Risks and dont trust that everything will work out. Dont loose sleep over it but while you are at work, keep thinking of ways your project can be impacted.

- Think of way your can overdeliver. Thats what makes you better than the rest.

How panic changes work culture

Its old and sad and painful reality that US economy is doing bad.

For people in who are working in companies which are not doing good fear is doubled. "Economy is not doing good dont know how long my company will survive". Then there is a third kind. When economy shrinks, it forces companies to take drastic steps. When company takes drastic steps (cost cutting, freezing projects) it creates panic in employees. What usually follows is layoffs and its seen so people know the effect of layoffs. However I wanted to write about a situation where layoff's have not happened (but are waiting to happen) third kind.

This period of uncertainity creates panic, makes people become deperate and brings out their survival instincts. Usually net effect of all the above is not good.

Some take it responsibly and say and do their best to adjust and make the most of the sitaution yet keeping their abilities and qualities intact. Some however loose it.

There have been instances where a great team questions, threatens, challenges, argues and shouting matches over silly things haopen simply because pressure has been created from the top and there is a unknown fear as to what might happen. if there is a great team who has worked well in the past and knows exactly where boundaries are for each, know the work done by each and results delivered, till now this team has been on same page untill now when all hell broke loose i.e. changes have been made and more will be made.

Because there is pressure on one person he stops trusting the judgement of the other person and starts asking dumb questions rather than trusting the colleague, it becomes a challenege at every statement made. Questioning the deliverables presented and doubting the quality of deliverables at every step. This becomes so much that they stop focusing on their job and spend a lot of time questioning and challening others and their motives. net result frustation and strained relations. This is no longer a dream team because it has lost trust.

While it is dangerous to trust blindly and questions should be asked, it should not become a pranoia.

This is only a small instance and can be dealt by doing what is right and ignoring the noise. There is no other way.

One of the sad outcomes of bad economy.